Wednesday, November 05, 2008

Congratulations, America

Barack Obama is president-elect of the United States of America. The Democrats are a plurality and in control of the house and the senate. Congratulations to all.

I have to admit that I'm feeling a little foolish writing this: it was either my being born and raised in what was a very white-bread community or that I'm post race-perception. To me Barack Obama was such an incredibly intelligent, engagingly well spoken, so totally the-right-person-for-the-moment, that I kinda forgot he was black. I was so enamored with the concepts Barack put forth of change in this nation, his seeming mastery of the issues and the completeness, the confidence, in his solutions, the trust that we could in fact turn this country around, that the color of his skin stopped being any part of my consideration some time ago. It didn't matter. It doesn't. But that doesn't obscure the simple truth that this was a huge moment in history met head on by that very person and by a people.

This was a momentous occasion. An African-American man was elected president and no person that hasn't had a lifetime of being black in America can understand what this meant to each of them personally. From my vantage point it was beautiful and enlightening to see a piece of America's history healed, a statement made by popular vote, a acknowledgment of positive change, but I can only attempt to imagine how it must feel for those that lived it from the other side.

Barack Obama's acceptance speech at Grant Park was beautiful to see, especially in this long locked-off telephoto shot that carries the whole duration, flags flapping in the background. There are other videos that sweep across the crowd but this really shows how alone he was up there on the stage, how he can stand and lead, and the audio has a perfect ring of the space around him. The crowd is heard strongly, but not seen.

President-elect Obama said everything I hoped for and as usual took it a step further, hit a higher note, completed the thought. He cited the challenges ahead clearly, expressed hope to meet them with confidence, and called on all of us to step up acknowledging our part, our responsibility, to the future of this nation and this world.

The crowd responded, "Yes we can!" Might all of America do the same.

Great job all, well done. Time to get to work. 2012 is just around the corner and the best way to win it is to get the next four years right.

I was on a rampage streak across the internet - of repudiating comments from freaks who claimed that Senator Obama was the Antichrist; and followed one link to the C4C website.

At first I was shocked and horrified and tried to respond to some of the posts there, but soon realized that it was pointless. They are set in their convictions and sometimes there's just no appealing to any Christian compassion or love in there.

However, I like to check in because once in a while, I find some cool arguments from a few extraordinary bloggers - like Cartoon Pig Dog, and apocryphaleffigy, who wrote a truly remarkable response in this:http://calvinists4conservatism.wordpress.com/2008/11/05/a-blind-leap-into-the-future/

I guess there's a chance that you may not be interested in those but I thought I'd post the links just in case you were curious. I enjoy reading the intelligent and well thought out reasoning in many of their posts. The one that I gave a lead to above: "a nigger in the white house" is quite interesting.

And then you.

You did such a great job of responding to the rants on Athiesm's Wicked Agenda. I think OS was also impressed with your logical and insightful posts. He usually gets much more aggressive with some of the bloggers but I noticed that he was really nice to you. (yes he was lol).

Your website is great. I've been skimming through it and was glad to find that it reflects many of my own personal beliefs. I'll pop in, check and comment as often as I can. Take care and keep writing! :)

"I reported Calvinists4conservatism to Wordpress.com, just like several others did as well.Since Wordpress forbids discrimination they will take action against CVC if we all report them.Go for it."

Not sure who wrote the above - but I was wondering, does reporting them make a difference? That wouldn't change their beliefs or the way they think. What would this accomplish?

And, would there be a better way to work with them?

I thought that one of the marks of being a true christian and a christian liberal was that we accept other points of view, and not "deny them their faith" as CD said so succinctly??? Even though we may disagree strongly? What do you all think?

They preach hatred to get their 15 minutes of fame, Shykitte.I accept other people's point of vieuw, as long as it is not intended to hurt others.The only thing the CVC writer wants is to get as many hits on his blog as possible, and to be as hostile as possible (and interpreting this as "freedom of speach").

Reporting them would let Wordpress shut down their site, since it is only there to incite hatred to amuse the writer behind it.

The reason that I reported them is the following.....WHAT IF somebody actually takes the things serious that get promoted on that site, and really does them?

They for instance promoted the following crimes on this site (and their former site "Blogs4brownback" too)

1.Stoning homosexuals to death.2.Beating women into submission, since "all women are harlots" (thats on B4B).3.Killing John McCain for "beeing a Rino".4.Shooting leftists on sight.5."rid the nation of such smut as that long-haired, fashion obsessed men"6.Interrogate Obama supporters.7."Beyonce realizes that she is sinning by prancing around like a strumpet, so she decides to adopt the persona of a male in order to sin another way. Parents, if you know what’s good for your children, work to ban her CDs in your town, and email her threats to cease producing her music."(so, in other words...."stalk her")8.Beating children (Ixion/Corker/Obsessive scrutator defended this very harshly on B4B)9.Exhuming the corpse of Frank Zappa and setting it on fire (B4B)

Thanx for responding Shykitte."strange and manic"is exactly the right way to describe those people, whatever name they choose to have (the entire nonsense is mostly nd after some nasty trick pulled on my behalf bywritten by one and the same person).As you asked me for my name.....I am MoxoM, nice to meet you here at a more sane place.

Christiandemocrat.....I like your blog, your logic and you well-spokenness.

Once more, but now correctThanx for responding Shykitte."strange and manic"is exactly the right way to describe those people, whatever name they choose to have (the entire nonsense is mostly written by one and the same person).As you asked me for my name.....I am MoxoM, nice to meet you here at a more sane place.

Christiandemocrat.....I like your blog, your logic and you well-spokenness.

Hi MoXoM, I've seen your posts on C4C. I remember you from the first because you had some apt and pithy comments in there to keep them in check! :))

Thank you for telling me (us) your name. Did I ask? I didn't mean to pry, but thank you for letting us know. :)

There's a couple of new people on there, and one of them (Jeremiah) ripped me up in one of my responses last night, so I'm in here today *recovering* from that.... (laughing). Could that be the same person then? His rant seemed similar in 'tone' to Obj Scrutator - or Ixion....

I don't know if I'll attempt to respond much on there - at least not for a few days.....because the sheer hatred and illogic is a little hard to comprehend and deal with.... And its all in the name of absolute Christianity too, of course!

Oh, and I completely agree with you about CD's blog and the way he thinks, its a relief to be able to come here and see respect and tolerance, issues discussed rationally and ideas that are not consumed with hate.

Not sure what happened, thought I posted this about an hour ago - but no need for accounts. Use the Name/URL and just put in a name, add a URL only if you want to. Your name will show up at the top in place of the "anonymous." Sure is easier on this side when the comments come in, I know who they're from.

And thanks for your kind words, too. They add to my feeling of responsibility not to write junk! So that's part of the reason I don't write every day.

I'm a Christian, and a Dem as well, and that is the one thing that REALLY doesn't sit well with me, is that Obama isn't as pro-life as he should be. He does have so many other qualities that make him a better choice than McCain. I just pray he can make pro-life choices when it really gets down to it.

"It is so sad that all of you Christians are celebrating the win of such a pro-abortion president. God help us."

"....Obama isn't as pro-life as he should be."

Obama is pro-life. (Are there levels of being pro-life?) But so was President Bush - but did he make any difference where abortion is concerned? Isn't it always state legislation and laws that determine the pro-life agenda? Isn't President Bush's inadequate position on these issues proof that there is not much a President can do?

About Me

I'm a husband, a father, a Christian, a worker, a golfer, a driver, a gardener, a fixer-of-things, a reader and a writer.
Writing ChristianDemocrat.us since 2004 has been a part of my personal growth in faith and in politics.
I want an America that is GREAT for all it's citizens, where those of faith, all faiths, as well as those without faith can communicate peacefully with each other and work towards common good.